Page 29 of An Unexpected Encounter

Dr. Anklan removes his gloves and tosses them into the trash. “You can take your legs down and sit up, Selena.” He takes hold of the pictures he printed and hands them to me once I’m sitting. “The nurse will be back in a few minutes with some prescriptions for prenatal vitamins and some nausea medication, as well as your next appointment date. I want to see you a little more often than normal since you are pregnant with multiples.”

“Thank you, doctor,” Sam replies before I do, shaking his hand.

As soon as the doctor leaves the room, Sam’s arms wrap around me.

“Twins, Selena. You’re fucking having twins. We have a Chicken Nugget and a Jalapeno Popper.”

I can’t say anything.

Fucking twins.

Chapter 14

Selena

It’s been a week since I received the news that I’m having twins and it’s still as much of a shock as it was then. Not to mention, one of my new brothers has stopped by every morning, all with a bear claw and a decaf coffee.

I didn’t answer the door every time, but they have a knack for catching me when I’m distracted.

Each professed an apology, reminding me I only heard part of the conversation. They only said what they had because of the new knowledge of our parents being married. Something they didn’t want to ruin for their father.

I get it, but it still doesn’t help my situation. I feel so selfish. My best friend in the whole world is pretending to be my boyfriend and father to my children. Not to mention keeping the babies a secret from their actual father. What do I do when the babies get older? Do I tell them the truth? How can I expect them to keep my secret if I do?

Am I making matters worse by being dishonest? At this point, I don’t know if it’s just the morning sickness that makes me feel like I’m dying.

I can’t eat or drink. Everything I take into my body makes a violent exit. I’ve contemplated moving my bedroom to the bathroom, since I seem to be in there more.

My next appointment is in three weeks. I’ll officially be twelve weeks. Three months of two little life forms growing inside of me.

My phone vibrates on the couch, and I lift the blanket to search for it. I made it here after I woke up this morning. I attempted to work on some of my accounts but gave up about thirty minutes ago.

Picking it up, I see it’s a text from an unknown number.

Unknown: Hey Selena. It’s Eli. I was checking to see if maybe you’d like to have dinner with us tonight.

Unknown: It could be our first step to a fresh start.

I let out a sigh. Why can’t they be like any other blended family and not care if they see you or not? I don’t remember which one texted me when we were at the wedding, but I deleted the number so I wouldn’t be tempted to message. Now I have a number again.

Ugh. I hate my life.

Me: Thank you for the offer, but I’m going to decline.

See, I wasn’t rude. I replied. The check mark turns green and bubbles dance up and down on the screen.

Fuck! Why do I have a feeling he’s not going to let it go at that?

Unknown: Come on Selena. It’s only going to be weird if we make it weird. We’re going to see each other for a long time, or as long as our parents are married.

Me: It’s not that Eli. I have been fighting a stomach bug and I just don’t feel like going anywhere.

Unknown: Do you need some medicine? Soup?

Me: No.

Me: Can I get a raincheck?

Unknown: Of course.

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